Proceedings of the Pennsylvania Yearly Meeting of Progressive Friends

The Committee appointed last year "to make arrangements for holding meetings in different places, as way may open, to advance the Testimonies of this Religious Society, especially those in relation to Slavery and Intemperance," submitted the following report:

TO THE YEARLY MEETING.

The Committee who were authorized by the Society to make arrangements for holding meetings in various localities, to advance the testimonies of Truth, report: That we entered very soon upon the duties assigned us, and more than realized our expectations in finding the way open for our reception. A considerable portion of the meetings appointed by the Committee were attended by overflowing numbers, who gave us kind and courteous audience. In several instances persons of other religious societies participated acceptably in the services of the Conventions. We found a much wider field for service than we were able to occupy. Many invitations were received, with which it was impracticable for us to comply. The Committee acknowledge with gratitude that the little service they were enabled to perform and the opportunity afforded for mingling with earnest and sincere minds in the mutual effort for the promulgation of a natural and antisectarian religion, has at least tended to promote our own spiritual strength and encouragement.

The following is a list of the meetings, held by us, viz.:

1st. A meeting in the woods near Marshalton, Chester Co.

2d. In Friends' meeting-house at Oxford, ""

3d. In a grove near Christiana, Lancaster Co., Pa.

4th. A series of four meetings in the city of Harrisburg, one of them in the colored people's church, at their request.

5th. Two in the Welsh Church at Pearl Bottom, Lancaster Co., Pa. 6th. Two at Phoenixville, Chester Co.

7th. A series of four in Newtown, Bucks Co., in which they adopted an Exposition of Sentiments, and appointed a Committee to call future meetings. 8th. One in the Free meeting-house at East Britain. 9th. Two in the People's Hall at Eastland, Lancaster Co. 10th. One at Pleasant Grove Hall. 11th. One at Slate Kidge, Maryland. 12th. One at Orange, New Jersey.

Andrew Jackson Davis spoke at considerable length upon "The Fraternity of Ideas," commanding the fixed attention of a crowded auditory.

The Testimony in favor of the Coequality of Woman was next taken up. Mary F. Davis read an able discourse upon the Political and Legal Disabilities of Woman, after which the Testimony was adopted.

FOURTH DAY—MORNING SESSION.

Alfred H. Love, of Philadelphia, read an original poem, as follows:

"LET THERE BE LIGHT!"

'When out of chaos, vast and wild, Creation burst—God's wondrous child— Deep darkness reigned throughout the land, Till forth there came the glad command—

Let there be Light! Then fled the veil of gloom away, And with the flush of youth came day; And from the bright sun hung on high, The joyous mandate seemed to fly—

Let there be Light! And when his daily smiles were o'er, No darkness blinded as before; O'er eastern hills the silVry moon Replaced the golden car of noon—

Let there be Light! The new-made stars, the planets all, Came twinkling—twinkling at the call; And with their laughing eyes replied, With hopeful beaming far and wide—

Let there be Light! And now, as then, with power divine, These orbs of Heaven brightly shine; From God proclaiming o'er the land, For some wise cause, that same command—

Let there be Light! Oh, man! take heed, this language lives In every thing creation gives; No life so poor, so mean, so small, But what the mind may read in all—

Let there be Light! There's not a dew-drop gems the morn, No floweret in the wild-wood horn, But what, examined, will unfold Some truth perchance till then untold—

Let there be Light! In every sphere of life we move, In every thing we meet or love; From break of day till midnight hour, There's something breathes that ruling power— Let there be Light!

How full the blessings flow from Heaven, For man's improvement kindly given; We see, we hear, we feel them all, Yet seldom heed that gentle call,

Let there be Light!

Too oft contented so to live, Receiving all, yet naught to give; Whiling away a world of bliss, And of that mandate too remiss— Let there be Light!

Above, around, beneath we find, Myriads of lights to guide the mind; And deep within the heart's recess, A sweet low whisper asks to bless— Let there be Light!

Lamp of the soul! a light divine— Well trimmed with love, shall truly shine; Revere its teachings, guard the flame, And then, as Heaven's orbs proclaim— There will be Light!

Light for the captive! light for the free! For all the world true liberty; Mad war and angry strife shall cease, And every fireside glow with peace— Let there be Light!

That tyranny may lose command, That slavery shall not curse the land; Reform and justice e'er accord, In joyous greeting with the word— Let there be Light!

'T will give us progress, love and truth, Ennoble age, inspire the youth; From mountain-top, to valley deep, Like suns that blaze and stars that peep— There will be Light!

An able and lucid paper on Public Worship, forwarded to the Meeting by Charles K. Whipple, of Boston, was read, and listened to with deep interest. After remarks by Caleb Jackson, Chandler Darlington, Eusebius Barnard, Oliver Johnson, William BarNard, Thomas Curtis, and William Chace, it was referred to the Revising Committee, to bo published, if practicable.

The Testimony against Sectarianism, after remarks by John G. Jackson and Oliver Johnson, was adopted.

The Friends appointed on Second day to nominate a suitable Committee to labor, during the ensuing year, in holding meetings, as way may open, to promote the anti-sectarian and reformatory principles of this Yearly Meeting, recommended the appointment of the following persons, and they were appointed accordingly: